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Wen Ning could only stare in despair at the invitation in his hands. Well, it says it's an "invitation," but anyone who knows the sender knows it's an order...
After the horror show that was his slutty cousin's third wedding, he's being dragged back for round two with a week-long family reunion?! Don't these people fucking work?
Guess not.
Either way, he had to tell his partners, but they couldn't go. That, of course, was a win for Wen Ning since he didn't want them in jail, and he didn't want them to witness just how badly his family treated him.
Unfortunately, that meant, once again, he was going to a one-sided war without them.
And boy, did they not like it, but they couldn't leave their responsibilities at work and so were forced to stay at home. They drilled into his head repeatedly to call them if something happened or if they went too far with him or hurt him or...look, it was a long list, okay?
All of which he agreed to but probably wouldn't do. However, they did demand nightly or daily check-ins to ensure he was alright, or at least alive.
That he would do.
Wen Ning was finishing up his packing the night before Huaisang and Meng Yao dropped him off at the airport. They insisted on doing it since Wen Qing's girlfriend was dropping her off, and his partners couldn't do so.
He got the feeling they wanted to talk, so he didn't object.
Wen Ning zipped up his suitcase with one final sigh and looked at his sulking lovers. "You two look ready to cry. That's my job." They yoinked him into a hug, and they flopped on the bed in a pile of limbs.
"We just don't want our baobei there without protection. Wen Qing is great, but she's never near you because she's practically that asshole's poster child."
He huffed at Wen Ning, "I can protect myself."
Lan Zhan stroked his hair gingerly, "You can...but won't. You fear consequences for Wen Qing and possible repercussions. You'd rather take it alone." Well, he couldn't argue there, could he?
"That's true...but it's nothing I'm not used to. I'll be okay." They frowned deeper and held him tightly, unwilling to make him endure that despite his words.
He returned the tight hug. Just because he can take it doesn't mean he wants to.
"I'll miss you..."
"We'll miss you Baobei, our sweet little Ningning..." With those final words, the lovers all fell into a restless sleep.
All too soon, he was riding in a car to the airport. "I still don't get why you have to go."
"Because if I don't, that pathetic pompous prick will make my Jiejie's life hell..." Both hummed in irritation.
"Wen Ning, I know you're non-confrontational, but you might have to toss that aside and choose violence. Your mental health is already turbulent. Do you really want to explode and murder them? No? Then honey, cuss them out and catch a flight."
The boy choked on his coffee and coughed his lungs out before it swiftly became laughter. He gave Meng Yao an amused look. "God, I'd love nothing more."
"Then do it!"
"It'll be a last resort, cause besties, I don't want to deal with the annoying aftermath." He huffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, that's fair, babe. We merely don't like you walking into a lion's den unarmed. There has to be something you can do..."
He smiled sadly at Huaisang through the mirror, "I know...but I don't think anything can be done..." Meng Yao had been silent too long, and that automatically made Wen Ning nervous, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. "We're here..."
He got out, and they helped him with his stuff. After one more tight hug and sad look, they parted.
Wen Ning met up with his Jiejie.
She gave him a deep frown and pulled him into a warm hug, "I'm sorry, Didi." He silently returned the hug.
He knows for a fact that if this was preventable, she would've made it happen, but it wasn't. Eventually, they boarded their plane, and Wen Ning could only watch in dread as his home was left behind for an unbearable destination ahead.
The entire flight, Wen Ning was plagued with nightmares, and quickly he just gave up on sleep. It wasn't worth it.
He missed his family at home. His partners and his friends, the life he made there.
He didn't want to visit this disdainful and crude group of monsters. The only good part is that A-Yuan didn't have to go since he was "sick."
Jiejie managed only to save one of them.
The trip was too long and too short. Wen Ning fucking hated it.
As they landed, the siblings looked ready to die, but their partners would bring them back just to kill the duo themselves if they did.
So, instead, they left the plane and got their belongings. Unfortunately, they had to get to their room and get to dinner.
Being the goth that he is, Wen Ning put up his ninety percent black wardrobe and took out his dinner outfit.
He sent a message to his group chat, letting them know that he had arrived safely. Then, he sent a separate message to his lovers' group chat to let them know that he missed them so much already.
After showering and getting ready, Wen Qing helped him with his hair and accessories. "You look wonderful, Didi. And I know Wen Chao won't really let you, but try to fade into the background."
He wished he could.
He really did.
The dinner hall was beautiful, extravagant, and over the top, exactly what he expected. Everyone, including them, looked posh and rich.
It was pretty gross.
The siblings had two wardrobes. Their regular wardrobes were used to express themselves and make them actually feel good about who they chose to be rather than who their family wanted.
But their family outfits masked it all away behind the perfect, rich family facade. They felt like rich douches.
Wen Ning was wearing a black button-down and black slacks, with a red tie and golden accessories. He wasn't a big color person, and wearing colors around his family was naturally a risk anyway.
Sharing a look, the siblings sat far from each other. Wen Qing sat with the main part of the group while Wen Ning drifted to the forgotten corner.
At this point, he didn't care if they never took his order; he only wanted them to never notice him.
But yeah, the universe is a cold bitch, soooo-"WEN NING! IS THAT YOU?! COME AND SIT WITH YOUR FAVORITE COUSINS!"
He was dragged directly between Wen Chao and Wen Xu...and right across from his sister and Wen Ruohan.
STRIKE. HIM. DOWN.
"H-Hi...g-o...-od to s-s-s-ee you..." He had no doubt he was shaking like a leaf and kept his eyes glued to his lap in terror.
"HA! Still haven't learned how to talk, ey? Unsurprising for a pathetic little creature like you!" Wen Chao immediately dug into him as always, and Wen Ning simply thought about his partners.
"Enough, Wen Chao. Wen Ning, I already know how your sister is doing, but how are you? We didn't talk much at the wedding."
'On purpose, my guy, that was on purpose.' But Wen Ning is a smart and pretty boy with occasional self-preservation, so instead he said,
"I wo...work at a f-f-f-flower sh-sho..op..." Not a lie, but not the complete truth.
It wasn't only a flower shop. It was a plant shop that he owned, "Ghostly Gothic Gardens," it was the most popular flower shop around and matched him in theme.
His plants were his babies, and he adored the shop. In fact, he'd much rather be there than here...
"THAT'S IT?! HAHAHAHAHA, THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO?! PLAY WITH DIRT?!" The entire table laughed at him, except for Wen Ruohan, who looked disgusted with him.
Wen Ning wanted to die.
"I expected more from you, but I suppose that was my fault for thinking you could actually do something..."
"...I'm sorry..." The only thing he says enough that he doesn't stutter on.
"How did something like that end up with men like Hanguang-jun and Wei Wuxian...?"
"Must've bribed them..."
"Brainwashed?"
Wen Ning tried to tune them out and tried his hardest not to cry...he let himself fade into the background...
HAHAHA NO DICE!
"AH! FUCK FUCK FUCK!" He shot out of his seat and tipped it over, knocking over a waiter behind him and causing him to crash onto another table.
Wen Chao made a waitress stumble and knock both hot soup and cold wine on him, causing the fucking catastrophe...
But of course, all that was said was, "WEN NING LEAVE!!!!!!!"
Wen Ning silently helped the waiter up and booked it from the room, holding back tears. Only when he was back in his room did he wail his heart out as he realized...he really was alone...
No one was here to help him...
Even worse was that Lan Zhan decided to call him at that moment. He knew he was going to sound horrible.
Yet there was nothing he could do about it, so he answered. "Baobeiiiiii! How was the flight?! Are you feeling okay??? Did you eat well???" A smile automatically crossed his face at his energetic darling before a calmer voice took over, "How are you? Are you safe...?"
Tears fell at the deep ache in his chest from how much he missed them. He said as much, "I miss you...so damn much..."
"What happened? Wen Ning...?"
"Ningning...? Are you okay...? WHAT DID THEY DO?! I know they did something..."
"Dinner...was...well yeah...but I...oh, I miss you so much. I feel so lonely...this is the worst." He wept quietly, trying to keep it from the phone.
"Oh, A-Ning...what we'd give to pull you in our arms, baobei...to kiss you and let you know everything will be alright. We miss you, honey, so very deeply..."
"Will you play for me...?" He just needed a piece of them with him. "Of course, Wen Ning." After brief shuffling, he heard the sweet melody of their Guqin and Dizi flow through the phone.
He carried his smile into sleep with him, and that's how Wen Qing found him. Slouched against the bed, asleep with his phone on call beside him.
She sighed in relief that he had such wonderful people in his life, "Wei Wuxian? Lan Wangji?"
"Wen Qing? Is he...?"
"He's asleep, yes. I'll tend to him, but thank you. I...I wish you were here with him...Family really is what he needs right now. And I can't do much..."
"We know, and we're so damn sorry that we aren't there."
"Don't apologize. You helping him sleep with a smile is more than enough. After today...he needed this. Please rest well, good night."
"Good Night, Queenie."
"Good night, Wen Qing."
She sadly hung up. Taking a deep breath, she tended to the burns Wen Ning suffered from the soup and cleaned him up. Soon, he was changed and tucked in as she let her own tears well in her eyes.
So angry and sad...that she couldn't protect him...can't protect him...
She feels like she failed him. Curling beside him, she held him tightly and fell into a poor sleep.
Wen Ning groggily opened his eyes and saw her asleep. He took off her jewelry, hair pieces, and heels.
Looking at her softly, he tucked her in beside him and held her closely. Wen Ning would always look at his Jiejie like she hung the stars because, to him...she did.
Her own smile surfaced on her face, and he smiled sleepily as he went back to sleep.
The next day was a beach day, something Wen Ning wanted to enjoy since he loved the beach.
He was following a tiny hermit crab on his journey across the shore as he held a bucket of colorful and gorgeous shells. After bidding his friend goodbye, he safely hid his shells with his belongings also carefully tucked away.
Wen Qing watched him with a gentle smile, glad he was having fun.
Wen Ning happily wandered into the beautiful clear water and smiled at the waves splashing him. He giggled and waded deeper.
Unfortunately, in all the fun, he didn't hear the footsteps behind him until it was too late.
"HEY BRAT! YOU LIKE THE WATER HUH?!" Wen Xu and Wen Chao turned him around and slammed him in the water, pinning him down.
He screamed and struggled against them, but wave after wave drowned him, and his everything burned from the relentless seawater.
Wen Ning could distantly hear everyone laughing at him as his sister screamed in distress for him.
Then a voice cut in crystal clear, "Oh, you picked the wrong boy to fuck with, *****." Wen Ning felt himself get let go as he was pulled up.
After the water was emptied from his lungs, his senses fully returned to him. He heard screams and finally saw the commotion with the help of someone (and their towel).
He saw Wei Ying, Lan Zhan, Lan Xichen, and Wen Qing drowning and attacking his cousins. Looking at who helped him, he saw Huaisang and Meng Yao, who looked ready to help drown them. "H-Huh? What are...?"
A wink from Meng Yao was his answer. He did have a plan!
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
Scoffing, the group got off them and returned to shore, "Well, we're just enacting some justice. No one else here felt the need to help Wen Ning when your brats were drowning him except for Wen Qing, and she was being restrained. So we stepped in."
"Why are you here anyway? You weren't invited." Lan Zhan met his stare with a colder one, "Wen Qing said that Wen Ning needed family, so we came."
"We are more than enough family for...it." Wei Ying practically snarled at him.
"HE has been here a day, and you've already burned him, sent him into a breakdown, AND DROWNED HIM. You are not family. You merely have the same bloodline and name for now."
Wen Ning ran to Wei Ying and hugged him tightly before glaring at his uncle.
Wen Ruohan laughed mockingly at them, "As if worthless creatures like you understand the first thing about family. Someone invading another family, a boy with lousy parents and a whiny brother, a boy with a slutty father, and a boy with a beast for a brother and no parents. And you a failure whose parents never even loved you, only your sister?"
THAT made Wen Ning see red. "Shut the fuck up, you pathetic pompous ASSWIPE!" He shoved Wen Ruohan back angrily.
"WEI WUXIAN!!!!!!!!" Turning, he saw Wen Chao run for his lover angrily. Wen Ning growled and threw Wei Ying into Lan Zhan before smashing his fist across Wen Chao's face.
Laughing angrily, he began violently stomping Wen Chao into the sand before kicking Wen Xu in the ribs when he tried to intervene and stomped him next, laughing maniacally.
"Wow...you guys really pushed him too far." Wen Ruohan couldn't say a word, too in shock at the display.
Lan Zhan gently lifted Wen Ning off of him before he killed them.
They saw the other Wens glaring at them, and it was returned.
"You know Wen Ruohan, their families aren't perfect, but I have felt more love from each of their homes than I ever have with any of you. They care about each other and, for some reason, about me..."
Wen Ning looked away bitterly, "I know I'm worthless and a loser. Maybe I don't deserve Lan Zhan or Wei Ying actually I know I don't...but they're here anyway. They blew off their important work to come for someone as useless as me. So I must be doing something right."
He glared at his uncle, "I never want to hear you utter another bad word against them. Because they are perfect, and their families are full of warmth and love that we will never have despite being a sun clan. All I've ever felt in this "family" was cold. Please don't bother sending us an invitation next time. From now on, they're going in the trash, where they belong."
Wen Ning grabbed his belongings and smiled at his actual family, "Come on, let's head home."
Wen Qing paused and looked at him, then at their asshole relatives. "Actually, hold on." Turning, she went back to their relatives.
"Deciding to stay? I knew you were smart."
She scoffed at him, "Don't be absurd. My didi simply inspired me. Ahem...ALL OF YOU ARE CHEATING SLUTS, ALL OF YOU ARE FAILURES, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE BULLSHIT, AND BOTH OF US HAVE ACHEIVED SUCCESS ON OUR OWN THAT FAR EXCEEDS ALL OF YOU. SO KISS MY ******* *** YOU ***** *** *******!!!!!"
She took a nice deep breath, finally getting that off her chest, and returned to them. Wen Ning was in tears and stared at her proudly. "I couldn't have said it better! HAHAHAHA!" The siblings cackled as they all left together.
Wen Ning moved his belongings to his partners' hotel, and the group decided to stay the day and leave tomorrow. Enjoying the nice hotel pool, a spa treatment, and finally, an actually lovely dinner.
It was everything Wen Ning dreamed of and more; he couldn't have asked for a better day. "Guys, thank you for coming."
Meng Yao smiled into his glass, "It was always the plan if I had anything to say about it. We'll always have your back, Wen Ning, whenever you need us."
"I still can't believe you beat their asses and cussed out your uncle! Balls of steel, babes!" Huaisang cackled with a wolfish grin.
"However, I want to set some things straight! I don't care what bullshit those idiots were feeding you. I don't ever want to hear such lies come out of your mouth again! You have never been worthless, and you're far from a loser! You're our perfect A-Ning, and we love you as you are!" Wei Ying gave him a sharp, scolding look.
"Mm! We see how special you are. You need to. We'll show you every day. We love everything about you, even your flaws, though those were never true." Lan Zhan gingerly took his hand and kissed it.
A hot flush spread across his cheeks as tears burned his eyes, "Thank you, both of you. I'll try to do better...you're both so wonderful. Oh, I don't know how I got so lucky to be with you. How I became so lucky to be with any of you."
"You were yourself, Wen Ning, that's all babes."
"You're a lot better than you think." Meng Yao clinked glasses with a nodding Huaisang.
Wen Qing smiled at all of them into her glass. Her Didi really is something special. "Alright, onto more important business. When are you idiots moving in together, and when's the wedding date?"
All three of them choked together, as they should.
What a perfect trio.